Joint British-French Airstrike Hits Islamic State Munitions Store in Syria

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.

The location, located using intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.

"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.

The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.

Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.

UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.

"I want to thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their valour," Healey added. "They were part of a great many British personnel deployed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."

Last December, the US military conducted what it described as a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The United Nations estimates Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.